WaterAid has taken a creative approach to shed light on the world’s water and sanitation crisis. The international charity that works to provide clean water and water systems to millions around the world released four images that show what notable Canadian cities would look like without clean water or toilets.

Toronto's distinctive skyline with the CN Tower is the backdrop for an image of a young girl emerging from a makeshift hanging latrine in unhygienic conditions. Credit: WaterAid
Toronto’s distinctive skyline is the backdrop for an image of a young girl emerging from a makeshift hanging latrine in unhygienic conditions. Credit: WaterAid.

As part of WaterAid Canada’s launch into the global organization as WaterCan, the campaign uses Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, and Ottawa as backdrops in the doctored images. The Photoshopped pictures show men, women, and children completing tasks like carrying jugs of dirty water or collecting water from the lake amid famed Canadian skylines and landmarks.

“By taking scenes of people without safe water and sanitation, which are far too common in many developing countries, and placing them in our own cities, we’re hoping to highlight this global crisis,” said WaterAid Canada’s chief executor, Peter Allen. “Improving access to water and sanitation is a cheap and cost-effective solution in helping overcome poverty. Just $25 can get safe water to one person for life, which can in turn impact on their health, education and livelihoods. At the moment, all donations to WaterAid Canada are being matched, meaning your $1 can become $5, delivering five times the impact.”

According to the charity, one in 500,000 children under the age of five die annually from diarrhoeal diseases caused by dirty water and poor sanitation.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Hello Stuart,
    Thank you for writing on a subject, in which we people in developing countries are subjected through. Quodos for WaterAid for taking programmes to help our people to have access to safe water and sanitation. Now no where in the globe there is plenty supply of water for drinking or otherwise. Severe shortages hanging over future for global climate change.
    People living in the developed countries realized this harsh reality sooner the better.
    Well, in the caption of mail there is mention of Bangladesh
    but in story there is no detail of programmes taken for this country ?
    Regards
    Inam M Choudhury

  2. Hello Stuart,
    Thank you for writing on a subject, in which we people in developing countries are subjected through. Quodos for WaterAid for taking programmes to help our people to have access to safe water and sanitation. Now no where in the globe there is plenty supply of water for drinking or otherwise. Severe shortages hanging over future for global climate change.
    People living in the developed countries realized this harsh reality sooner the better.
    Well, in the caption of mail there is mention of Bangladesh
    but in story there is no detail of programmes taken for this country ?
    Regards
    Inam M Choudhury

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